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On board the V 69

I had just reached the deck when we discovered the enemy abeam at long range and opened fire. The enemy’s marksmanship was very accurate and we were soon hit.

January 25, 1917

April 20 2017, 12:01am, The Times

Nine petty officers were landed from the damaged German destroyer V 69 and brought to the Willem Barentz Hotel, Ymuiden, tonight. My correspondent engaged them in conversation at a late hour. After some Dutch bock beer they rapidly recovered their spirits and began to sing Luther’s well-known hymn, “Ein’ feste. Burg ist unser Gott,” but they added an original ending: “aber unsere Macht ist fort.” A tower of strength our God doth stand, But our German strength is sand. In contrast to this I may add that while my correspondent was conversing with the Germans inside I was outside watching the dead bodies of their comrades being carried, unknown to those inside, under Dutch flags, through the street to the mortuary.

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